One reason people love autumn so much is that it boasts the most beautiful color scheme of all the seasons.
Nature is commonly green in warmer months and brown in colder ones. Yet, during the transition from summer to fall, many trees transform as their leaves change colors to display an assortment of yellow, orange, and red instead.
While you may be able to see beautiful fall foliage right outside your home, seeing a few trees changing colors is different than witnessing a whole forest of trees with varying shades of fall colors. Many places in the world are so colorful in the fall that they’ll make you feel like you’re in a fantasy world.
So, if you’re someone who loves fall, consider adding some of the following destinations to your bucket list. They all have gorgeous autumn foliage. Just remember that the seasons occur at different times depending on where you live, so before traveling to one of these places to experience the magic of fall, make sure you’re visiting during that location’s fall season.
1. Acadia National Park, Maine, USA
Acadia National Park is a gorgeous 47,000-acre park that stretches across the Atlantic coast of Maine. From late September through October, you can see gorgeous trees of a variety of fall colors everywhere you turn. The best way to admire these autumn hues is to go hiking through the park’s many trails. While exploring, you can see fall foliage along the water and up on mountains. It’s impossible not to be in the autumn spirit when exploring Acadia National Park at this time of year.
2. Kyoto, Japan
Mid-November is usually the best time to see beautiful fall foliage in Japan. You’ll likely see a mixture of yellow, orange, and red in the foliage no matter where you go in Kyoto, but the best places to get stunning fall photos are near temples, gardens, and villas. One of the most popular spots is Takao, which is a mountain village with lots of great opportunities for nature views. Kyoto is full of gorgeous architecture, so adding fall colors to an already stunning setting is definitely a sight to see.
3. Bavaria, Germany
Bavaria is an area of Germany that already looks like something out of a fairy tale. So, when fall foliage appears, it makes it look even more magical. September and October are the best times to see colorful autumn leaves in Bavaria. Of course, there are beautiful leaves all over, but some of the most mesmerizing places to see fall colors in Bavaria are the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Bavarian Forest National Park, and the Bavarian Alps. By going to these destinations during fall, you can see some of Bavaria’s most stunning sites surrounded by yellow, orange, and red hues.
4. Aspen, Colorado, USA
Aspen is an area known for skiing, but there are plenty of other great things to do there. The end of September is the best time to visit if you’re looking for fall foliage. As the city’s name implies, there are lots of aspen trees at this destination, which change beautifully in the fall. The bold yellow, orange, and red leaves on the trees provide a unique contrast with the white tree trunks. There are plenty of nature spaces in Aspen that are filled with trees. So, take a scenic drive or a nature hike to get amazing views of colorful fall leaves. You can get beautiful photos of yellow and orange trees beside massive mountains. Nearby areas, such as Ridgeway, Colorado, also have beautiful fall foliage.
5. Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
Fall colors are most prominent in Denali National Park from mid-August to early September. You can see the stunning bold fall colors by simply driving around the park, but it’s often more impressive to hike around to experience it from different angles. The green evergreen trees provide a unique contrast among the deep oranges and reds. Plus, many spots have a gorgeous mountain view behind the colorful leaves. You may even see some wildlife as you explore, but make sure you keep a distance for your safety.
6. Seoul, South Korea
You can enjoy the most beautiful fall colors in South Korea in October and November. While Seoul is a big city, there are still lots of places to see red, orange, and yellow leaves. Visiting mountains, parks, and gardens is the best way to get a glimpse of the city’s nature and fall colors. Even near the big buildings of the downtown area, you can still get great pictures of colorful leaves. Seoul has lots of incredible architecture, including palaces and temples, so those structures look especially stunning when the leaves change colors.
7. Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a national park in China, and its sights seem too stunning to be real. This park is filled with waterfalls, lakes, and mountains, so every trail offers scenic views. While these views are mesmerizing year-round, the changing colors of the leaves add another layer to their beauty. September and October are the ideal months to see fall colors among these amazing sights. Not only is autumn a great time for yellow, orange, and red hues, but it’s usually the perfect temperature for hiking as well.
8. Lake Bled, Slovenia
October is the perfect time to experience the colors of fall in Slovenia. In Slovenia, Lake Bled is one of the most popular nature sights for tourists, and it looks even better with fall foliage around it. Not only are the trees beautiful, but the lake also has stunning architecture near its shore. Bled Castle sits among the trees on the shore while an old church rests on an island on the lake. Both white buildings look beautiful next to an assortment of red, orange, and yellow leaves.
9. Stowe, Vermont, USA
Vermont is often an overlooked state, but it’s one of the best places in the United States to see fall colors. Stowe, Vermont, is especially known for its natural beauty. It has lots of places to hike and go skiing, so it’s the perfect place for anyone who loves outdoor adventures. Late September to mid-October is the best time to visit Stowe if you want to see a mix of yellow, orange, and red leaves before they fall. No matter what areas of Stowe you explore, you’re sure to see some amazing colors.
10. Hraunfossar, Iceland
Hraunfossar, Iceland, is known for a series of beautiful waterfalls known as “Lava Falls.” These waterfalls are worth visiting any time of year, but they have a whole new look when they’re surrounded by fall foliage. The patches of yellow, orange, and red plants pop next to the dark rocks and flowing water. Fall typically runs from late August through October in Iceland, but mid-September through October is the best time to see the colorful leaves among the waterfalls.
11. Lapland, Finland
Finland is often thought of as cold and snow-covered, but it has four seasons. Like many places, September and October are the best times to see fall colors in Lapland. While many of Lapland’s attractions, such as Santa Claus Village, are geared toward the winter season, there are still lots of hiking trails to explore if you’re looking for fall colors. There are lots of stunning nature sights, including lakes and mountains, in this region, which often look best in autumn.
12. Napa Valley, California, USA
California is known for being a sunny state with warm temperatures year-round. Yet, not all regions of California have the same weather and sights. Napa Valley is a gorgeous region that changes colors in the fall. Late October through November is usually the best time to see yellows, oranges, and reds appear in Napa Valley. Many people prefer visiting Napa Valley over other autumn destinations because it’s still warm out while the leaves are changing. So, you can enjoy the colorful vineyards without having to dress in layers.
13. Prague, Czech Republic
Autumn stretches from September through November in the Czech Republic, but mid-October is usually the best time to see vibrant fall colors. While there are a lot of buildings in Prague, there are trees scattered throughout the city, and those trees in the fall look beautiful next to Prague’s unique architecture. Petrin Hill is one of the best places in Prague to admire the colors because it has a tower with a 360-degree view of the area from above. So, you’ll be able to see all of Prague’s fall foliage at once.
14. Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania has some of the coolest architecture in the world. It has castles and medieval towns, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time when exploring it. So, as you can imagine, this destination looks even more mystical in the fall. Mid-October is usually the best time to see fall colors, but September and November are good months, too. Many visitors prefer to go in September because it’s still warm even as the colors change. Whether you go for a scenic drive, walk around, or explore historic structures, you’re sure to see beautiful fall sights.
15. The Pocono Mountains, USA
The Poconos spread across northeastern Pennsylvania, covering about 2,400 square miles. This outdoor destination is beautiful to explore at any time of year, but autumn brings a new color scheme with red, orange, and yellow leaves. October is the optimal time to visit for fall foliage, particularly in early to mid-October. The best way to experience it is to hike around and see the fall colors from different angles. Since it’s such a large area, make sure you stick to the designated trails for safety.
16. Arrowtown, New Zealand
Arrowtown is a historic mining town in New Zealand with beautiful fall foliage. The colorful trees are found in the village and on large mountains nearby. However, fall colors don’t appear at typical times in New Zealand. The peak time to see autumn colors in Arrowtown is from late April to early May. During this time, Arrowtown has a popular Autumn Festival that many visitors enjoy attending. This area has plenty of historic buildings mixed with nature sights, so it’s a gorgeous place to visit.
